Cambridge's MP and former MP have called for the pause button to be pressed on City Deal projects while a new timetable is negotiated.

Daniel Zeichner MP and Lib Dem Julian Huppert were speaking at a “Rebooting the City Deal” meeting organised by volunteer group Smarter Cambridge Transport last night.

Dr Huppert helped negotiate the original City Deal package, which imposed a 5-year time limit on the use of the body’s £100million funding. It must be spent in order to unlock the next tranche of funding.

He said that securing five years’ freedom to use the money had been a “big step”, but continued: “Spending £100million quickly and badly cannot be the right answer.”

He said that a new timetable could be negotiated for the funding with central government.

Mr Zeichner pointed out that more funding for the region is set to be released as part of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s devolution deal. The deal will go through early next year if all councils agree with it.

He said: “[The City Deal] should go to government and say: ‘We’ve got a bit of a muddle here. Let’s roll all the money together.’”

Meeting with minister

Leader of the City Deal Lewis Herbert told the News after the meeting that he was set to meet with local government minister Sajid Javid on Monday.

He said: “We will be taking the opportunity to start a discussion about greater flexibility for the City Deal.”

But he said that the City Deal board would continue to press ahead with current projects in case no further flexibility was agreed.

Opportunities for transport

The “Rebooting the City Deal”, a packed-out event at Wolfson College, also included three presentations on possibilities for improving Cambridge transport.

Residents heard from Colin Harris of Cambridge Connect about how light rail could transform Cambridge and from academic Rachel Aldred about the factors that get people cycling.

Edward Leigh from Smarter Cambridge Transport spoke about improving bus services in Cambridgeshire by having “travel hubs” that make changing buses pleasant and easy.

Mr Herbert said the presentations illustrated “opportunities” for transport.

He said that light rail was currently outside the budget of the City Deal and needed the backing of Network Rail.

He said he would be discussing funding and backing for rail projects with MPs and government ministers.